Centrifugal mold closure assembly



Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 1l. 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Wm/w Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 11, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 11, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. l-:wlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 11, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 4 ma f. WM/ INVENTOR. .Z5/'175. 6.

Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EWING 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April ll. 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 5 BY yx United States Patent O 3,l2l,266 EENERWUGAL MGLDCLGSRE ASSEMBL Paul E. Ewing, Huntington Park, Calif., assigner to RichManufacturing Company 'of California, llos Angeles, Calif., acorporation of California @riginal application Apr. 1l, lQdtl, Ser. No.2l,l80, new Patent No. 3,972,989, dated dan. l5, 1963. Divided and thisapplication May 8, i951, Ser. No. ll3,982

4 Claims. (Cl. 22-65) This is a divisional application of Serial No.21,180, flied April 11, 1960, now Patent No. 3,072,980.

This invention relates to centrifugal casting apparatus for themanufacture of pipe and is particularly directed to improvements overthe apparatus shown in my prior Patent 2,879,563, granted March 31,1959. In general terms the apparatus disclosed in that patent includes arotary transfer member which receives a cylindrical metal flask inhorizontal position and then turns it to an upright vertical position.While the flask is held in vertical position a retractable pattern isinserted upward into the interior of the Jrlask and a sand-deliverymechanism is lowered to contact the upper end of the flask and the upperend of the pattern. Sand is then blown into the interior of the flaskaround the pattern to form a sand lining within the flask. The patternis then withdrawn in a downward direction and the sand-delivery deviceis retracted upward away from the flask.

The transfer member then turns and deposits the sandlined flask inhorizontal position on rails leading to a spinning station where moltenmetal is poured into the spinning sand-lined flask, or mold. The moltenmetal solidifies while the mold is spinning and the mold then moves fromthe spinning station to a casting-ejection station. The casting, in theform of a length of pipe, is pushed axially out of the flask along withthe sand lining. The casting and sand are then discharged laterallywhile the empty flask is elevated and deposited on rails leading to thetransfer member. The cycle then repeats.

The present invention relates to improvements in the apparatus at thespinning station.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel form of closureassembly for use with the mold at the spinning station, which assemblyincludes means for arresting free spinning movement of parts of theclosure after discharge of the mold and casting from the spinningstation.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FlGUBE 1 is a side elevation in diagrammatic form of a centrifugalcasting apparatus embodying this invention.

FlGURE 2 is an end elevation partly in section and partly broken awayshowing details of the apparatus at the spinner station.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation partly in section taken substantily on thelines 3 3 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlargement of a portion of the apparatusshown in FIGURE 2.

FlGURE 5 is a plan view partly in section and partly broken away andtaken substantially on the lines S--S as shown in FGURE 3.

lGURE 6 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 5 5 asshown in FGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on the lines'7 7 as shown in FIGURE 5 and illustrating the transfer arms in lowerposition.

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 7 but with the transfer arms shownin upper position.

FlGURE 9 is a horizontal section view taken along the axis of a mold inspinning position.

Referring to the drawings, the general arrangement includes a rotarytransfer member l) which may be sim- Cil Patented Fels., l, i964 ICCilar to that disclosed in my prior Patent 2,879,563. This rotarytransfer member l@ includes a framework 1l fired on a central horizontalshaft 12. The shaft l2 is supported in axially spaced bearings 13 andlli mounted on pedestals l5. The framework ll is positioned between thebearings i3 and 14. Four flask-receiving seats are provided on the frontface of the framework ll and each of these seats is adapted to receiveand hold a hollow cylindrical llask lo. Power means in the form of apower cylinder 17 acting through crank arm l and a one-way clutch i9serves to turn the shaft l2 and transfer member l@ through one-quarterturn increments. A retractable pattern 2l is mounted on the upper end ofa piston rod 22 extending upward from a power cylinder assembly 23. Whenthe piston rod Z2 is projected upward, the pattern 2l moveslongitudinally into the bore of the vertical flask le. A sealing plate24 resiliently mounted on the piston rod 22 contacts the lower end ofthe vertical flask 16. The sand-delivery device generally designated 25has a nozzle 26 at the lower end thereof and when the device 2S islowered to Contact the upper end of the flask 16 the nozzle acts as apilot and telescopes into the upper end of the pattern 2l to hold it incentral position and thus forms a part of the pattern. (See FIGURE 1.)The apparatus for guiding and raising and lowering the sanddeliverydevice is described hereinafter.

After the vertical flask lo has 'been lined with sand and after thesand-delivery device Z5 has been retracted in an upward direction andthe pattern 2l retracted in a downward direction, the rotary transfermember lil is turned through one-quarter revolution to bring thesandlined flask into horizontal position adjacent the stationary rails3h'. The sand-lined flask is then released from its seat on a frameworkil and rolls along the rails 3i? toward the spinning station generallydesignated 3l. The construction and operation of the mechanism at thespinning station 3l is described below. When the sand-lined flask ormold 32 has received molten metal and after the easting has begun tocool, the casting-containing mold is deposited on rails 33 and feederdevice generally designated S4 controls the rate of roll-ing movement ofthe castingiilled molds 32 to the casting-ejection station generallydesignated 35. The casting and sand lining are ejected axial-ly from thehollow flask into a tiltable hopper Se and the hopper is then raised bymeans of the cable 37 and power cylinder 33 to discharge the pipecasting and smd into the oscillating conveyor El?. The empty flask 16 islifted by power cylinder assembly l to the upper portion of the tower 42and discharged laterally onto the upper trackway or rails 43. The emptyflask rolls on the rails 43' to the feeder assembly generally designatedd4, and is again received in horizontal position on one of the seats onthe rotary transfer member lil'. The cycle then repeats.

When the sand-lined llask or mold 32 rolls from the lower end of therotary transfer member onto the rails 36', it rolls down the rails untilit encounters another similar sand-lined flask or mold. As shown inFlGUlES 7 and S the tracks 3d are each provided with an abutment 13hwhich arrests forward rolling movement of the mold 32. These abutmentsist? are placed at the lower ends of the rails 3ft at the spinningstation generally designated 3l. rllhe apparatus at the spinning stationis nest shown in FlGURES 2-9. lt include-s parallel horizontal shaftsll, 132 mounted in axially spaced bearings 133. The beariags ill-3 aremounted on parallel erossbearns i3d supported on subframe Each shaft hasa driven pulley 136 mounted thereon and these pulleys are belt-drivenfrom a single driving pulley 1137 powered by an electric motor 13S. Eachof the shafts 131 and 132 is provided with axially spaced spinning rollsE39, 14%. Rings l4 O are provided on each of the flasks and are axiallyspaced for Contact with the spinning rolls 139 and 149'.

Novel means is provided for simultaneously transferring a sand-filledmold 32 into a spinning position on the rolls 139 and 149 while at thesame time transferring a castingcontaining mold out of spinning positionand onto the tracks 33. A pair of duplicate transfer arms 145 fixed tothe rockshaft 1de extends under the molds 32. The rockshatt 146 andtransfer arms 145 are omitted in FlGURE 2 for clarity of illustrationbut are clearly shown in FISURES 5, 7 and 8. The roclcshaft 14.5 issupported in axially-spaced bearings 147 carried on supporting structure14S. Each transfer arm has a recess 156 formed in its upper surface nearthe swinging end thereof and also has an abutment 151 at the extreme endthereof. When the arms 145 are raised from the position shown in FIGURE7 to the position shown in FGURE 8, the upper surface of 152 of the armsengages under the casting-lled mold 32 which is in spinning position onthe rolls 139 and 141'?. The recessed portion 15? of the arms engagesunder the next adjacent sand-illed mold which is to be moved intospinning position. The end surface abutment 151 contacts the nextadjacent mold 32 to hold it back and prevent it from being lifted by thearms 14S.

A gravity actuated trigger 153 is pivotally mounted at 154 on each ofthe arms 14d at a location near the juncture of the recess surface d,and the upper surface 152 of the arms 145. Stop lugs 155 and 15o limitthe pivotal movement of the trigger 153 in both directions. `When thearms 14S are in the lower retracted position as shown in FIGURE 7, thetriggers 153' pivot by gravity and lie against the limit stops 156.Accordingly, when the arms 145 are raise the upper ends of the triggers153v engage under the casting-filled mold 32 and cause it to move to thelett as viewed in EEGURES 7 and 8. As the castingilled mold 32 rollsdown the inclined surface 152 of the arms lea' in raised position, asshown in FiuURE 8, the upper ends of the triggers 153 are contacted bythe sand-filled mold being moved into spinning position. Should the moldtend to roll up and out of the recess 15d the triggers 153 strike thelimit stops 155 to present an abutment, thereby preventing overtravel ofthe sand-filled mold The action of the surfaces 15% on the arms 1115 isto lift the sand-lled molds 32 only to the extent sufficient to clearthe abutments 13d and to roll over the surfaces of the rolls 14). Thetransfer of the sand-filled mold from its position at the end of thetracks 3@ into spinning position is therefore accomplished with theminimum of shock loading, and the sand lining is not disturbed.

The rockshaft 145 is turned by means of crank arm 158 fixed to therocksha-ft and connected by link 159 to the piston rod 161B of the powercylinder assembly 4generally designated 161. The vcylinder portion ofthe assembly is pivoted at 1&2 to a `stationary bracket 163. When thecylinder assembly 151 is actuated to retract the piston rod 159, therockshaft 14e is caused to turn in a counterclockwise direction, therebyraising the transfer arms 145. When the interior of the cylinderassembly 161 is vented, the weight of the arms and crank arm 153 returnsthe parts to the position shown in GURE 7 with the piston rod 161i inextended position.

-lt will be observed that a single raising movement of the arms iseifective to move a casting-filled mold from spinning position and atthe same time move a sandiilled mold into spinning position.Accordingly, a single power stroke of the cylinder assembly 161 effectsboth of these operations.

When the sand-lined flask 32 is supported on the rolls 139 `and 1e@ inspinning position, end closures are swung into position to preventescape of molten metal from the ends of the mold as well as to hold inplace core pieces which define the interior shape of the ends of thepipe casting. The cores 174? and y171 are of conventional refractoryconstruction and are smooth on their outer surfaces. The large end 172of each core ts snugly Within the sand lining 173. Replaceable endplates i174 engage the end of the cores 17d and 171 and Contact the endof the sand lining 173. The end plates 174 have a central aperture 175.The end plates 174 are carried on and form a part of the closurel.assemblies generally designated 176 and 4177. These are substantiallyduplicates.

Each of these closure assemblies 176 and 177 includes a hollow `rotaryhub `17? mounted on a nonrotary ring 179 by means of a ball-bearingassembly 13G. Threaded fastenings 181 connect the end plates 174ito theend flange of the hollow hub 178. Another end ilange 132 is fixed to thehub `178 by means of threaded fastenings 1&3 and this end flange turnswith the hub 17%. A nonrotary brake disc 184 is annular form and carriesfriction liring which bears against the face of the flange 12. Arms 13don the annular plate 184 are connected to parallel pins 187 havingenlarged heads 138. These heads 'are guided for movement within springhousing 139 `fastened to a swinging support i190. The heads 133 Yprog'ect through the support 19% and are adapted to contact stationaryside plates y191 when the closure assemblies are in closed position.Springs 192 within the spring housings 189 hold a brake lining `18Sagainst the flange 1&2 when the closures are swung to open position, butthese springs 192 are compressed when the heads 188 contact thestationary parts 1191, thereby moving the brake lining away from thesurface of the flange 418.2.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the swinging support is pivoted at 195 to astationary upright member 196 and the other end of the support 19? isactuated by means of an actuator member 197 pivoted at 19S to thestationary member. As shown in FIGURE 4 a power cylinder assembly 199 isconnected to a stationary bracket 26@ by means of pivot pin 2111 and thepiston rod 262 is pivotally connected at 293 .to the actuator member197.

The swinging support 190 is provided with a horizontal bar 295 near itsswinging end and this oar has an enlarged head 2%. A bracket 2417 lixedon the actuator member 1917 contains a slot 29S which loosely receivesthe bar 295 and defines a pocket for reception of the enlarged head 296.Suicient looseness is provided to allow the actuator member y197 toswing about its pivot 198 thereby moving the swinging support 199` aboutits pivot 19S. The required range of movement is not great and theangolari-ty of the swinging support `19t) is exaggerated in the upperportion of FIGURE 9 for the purposes of illustration.

In operation, one of `the sand-lined flasks or molds 32 is placed inspinning position `on the rolls 139 and 149 by means of the transferarms 145, as described above. The power cylinder assemblies 199 areactuated to swing the closure `assemblies `176 and 177 Iinto positionfto close the ends of the mold 32. The end plates 174 engage the sandlining i173y and the iianged hubs 178 engage the end faces of the flask.The swinging movement of the closure assemblies 176 'and 177 isIaccomplished by energizing the power cylinder assemblies .1% in anotherdirection to retract their respective piston rods 2112. The actuatormembers 197 then apply a closing lforce to the swinging supports 19t? sothat endwise pressure is applied to both ends of the mold 3-2. Closingmovement of the assemblies 175 and `177 is accompanied by separation ofthe friction lining 1%5 from the brake flanges 182 as descnibed above.r.This #allows the hollow hubs 173 to spin freely with the mold '32.

When the mold 32 'is spinning on the rollers 139 and 145i under powersupplied by the electric motor 138, molten metal previously transferredfrom the ladle 21@ to the reservoir ladle 211 is poured into thereceptacle 212 after the carriage 213 has been moved to place the spout214 within lthe interior of the rotating mold 32. The receptacle 212 is`tilted to discharge molten metal through the spout 214 by means of thepower cylinder assembly 215 mounted on the carriage 213. Movement of thecarriage is controlled by means ott the power cylinder assembly 216. Thepouring spout extends into the interior of the spinning mold 32 beyondthe end of the adjacent core 176 and the molten metal fills lthe spaces217 and 218 dened between the sand lining .173 and the outer surfaces ofthe cores 170 and 171. The outline of the pouring spout 214 is shown inphantom lines in FIG- URE 9 and it will be observed that the spoutextends thro-ugh the central aperture in the hub 178 and replaceable endplate 175. When the pouring operation is completed, the carriage 21'3 isretracted by means of the power cylinder `216, thus withdrawing thepouring spout 214 to an inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 2.

The power cylinder assemblies 199 are then actuated to project theirrespective piston rods and thereby swing the closure assemblies '176 and177 -to open position away from the composed ends of the casting-filledmold 32. The brake linings `185 automatically engage the brake flanges182 to arrest spinning movement of the hubs 178 and related parts.Accordingly, the hubs will not be spinning when they are re-engaged withthe nent sandiilled mold to be positioned on the rolls 139 and 140, andhence wear on the ends of the molds and disturbance of the cores andsand lining is minimized.

Just prior -to moving the closure assemblies 176 and 177 water may beintroduced through the spray nozzle 213 to assist in rapid cooling ofthe casting within the sand lining 173-. The nozzle may be mounted inany convenient manner on one of the swinging supports 190.

Having fully described my invention it is to be understood that am notto be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention isof the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: means adapted tosupport and spin a horizontal cylindrical mold, a movable closureassembly for at least one end of the mold, said closure assemblyincluding a hub having an element adapted to contact an end face of thecylindrical mold, another element on the hub presenting a friction brakesurface, a stationary member, a support member mounted to swing on saidstationary member, bearing means on said swinging support membermounting said hub for rotation, a nonrotary brake member carried on saidswinging support member, bias means on said swinging support memberacting to hold said brake member in contact with said friction surface,and means actuated by swinging movement of the closure assembly towardclosed position acting to overcome said bias means to separate the brakemember from said friction surface and permit free spinning of the hub asa unit with the cylindrical mold.

2. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: means adapted tosupport and spin a horizontal cylindrical mold, a movable closureassembly for at least one end of the mold, said closure assemblyincluding a hub having an element adapted to contact an end face of thecylindrical mold, another element on the hub presenting a friction brakesurface, a stationary member, a support member mounted to swing on saidstationary member about a vertical axis, bearing means on said supportmember mounting said hub for rotation, a nonrotary brake member carriedon said swinging support member, bias means on said swinging supportmember acting to hold said brake member in contact with said frictionsurface, and brake release means on said swinging support member andengaging said stationary member upon swinging movement of the closureassembly toward closed position to overcome said bias means, and therebyseparate the brake member from said friction surface and permit freespinning of the hollow hub as a unit With the cylindrical mold.

3. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: pairs of powerdriven rollers adapted to support and spin a horizontal cylindricalmold, a movable closure assembly for at least one end of the mold, saidclosure assembly including a hollow hub having an element adapted tocontact an end face of the cylindrical mold, another element on the hubpresenting a friction brake surface, a stationary member, a supportmember mounted to swing on said stationary member about a vertical axis,bearing means on said support member mounting said hollow hub forrotation, a nonrotary brake member carried on said swinging supportmember, means including springs on said support member acting to holdsaid brake member in contact with said friction surface, brake releasepins movably mounted on said swinging member and engaging saidstationary member upon swinging movement of the closure assembly towardclosed position acting to overcome said springs, and thereby separatethe brake member from said friction surface and permit free spinning ofthe hollow hub as a unit with the cylindrical mold.

4. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: means adapted tosupport and spin a horizontal cylindrical mold, a stationary member, aclosure assembly for at least one end of the mold, means mounting saidclosure assembly for swinging movement on said stationary member, saidclosure assembly including a rotary hub having an element adapted tocontact an end face of the cylindrical mold, another element on the hubpresenting a friction brake surface, a nonrotary brake member, biasmeans acting to hold said brake member in contact with said frictionsurface, and means actuated by movement of the closure assembly relativeto said stationary member and toward said mold acting to overcome saidbias means to separate the brake member from said friction surface andpermit free spinning of said hub as a unit with the cylindrical mold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,030,105 Enrich et al Feb. 11, 1936 2,489,479 Cavallier Nov. 29, 19492,948,933 Molloy et al. Aug. 16, 1960

4. IN A CENTRIFUGAL CASTING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF: MEANS ADAPTED TOSUPPORT AND SPIN A HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL MOLD, A STATIONARY MEMBER, ACLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR A LEAST ONE END OF THE MOLD, MEANS MOUNTING SAIDCLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ON SAID STATIONARY MEMBER, SAIDCLOSURE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A ROTARY HUB HAVING AN ELEMENT ADAPTED TOCONTACT AN END FACE OF THE CYLINDRICAL MOLD, ANOTHER ELEMENT ON THE HUBPRESENTING A FRICTION BRAKE SURFACE, A NONROTARY BRAKE MEMBER, BIASMEANS ACTING TO HOLD SAID BRAKE MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH SAID FRICTIONSURFACE, AND MEANS ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF THE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY RELATIVETO SAID STATIONARY MEMBER AND TOWARD SAID MOLD ACTING TO OVERCOME SAIDBIAS MEANS TO SEPARATE THE BRAKE MEMBER FROM SAID FRICTION SURFACE ANDPERMIT FREE SPINNING OF SAID HUB AS A UNIT WITH THE CYLINDRICAL MOLD.